Thursday, June 30, 2011

Short Winged Piper Club Convention


The official reason we headed to South Dakota was for Nathan to publicly thank the Short-Winged Piper Club for three years of scholarships. They were holding their annual convention on Clyde Ice Field, the airport in Spearfish, SD. The kids and I were invited to attend as well. Nathan spoke genuinely and many of the members came to up to meet him and encourage him in his career. The most memorable part of the evening was the two native Lakota brothers who spoke of their culture and of danced traditional dances. The evening might not have been the traditional ten year anniversary celebration but it was a happy day with my husband and kids.

Spearfish Fish Hatchery

Here fishy-fishy.
From underneath.
Feeding them in the ponds

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Wild Bill in Deadwood

Saloon #10, where Wild Bill was shot and where it's re-enacted daily.

The actual chair he was sitting in while playing cards.
With Wild Bill and the creepy cowboy who shot him.

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Ten

Today Nathan and I celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary.  Although it seems like just yesterday we were a blushing bride and a grinning groom, it's been ten years.

The years have been both filled and fulfilling.  We've gone from a couple to a family of five.  We've lived in three states at four addresses.  We've bought and sold a home.  I have had five part time jobs, substitute taught in 10 different classrooms, and yet claim full time homemaker as my career title.  Nate has been employed as a teacher, soldier, principal, carpenter, machinist, and air craft mechanic.  We still own the same car but have added a mini van as well.

Ten yeas ago we held hands, looked into each others eyes, and repeated the vows of Christian Marriage. I was certain that day that our love stretched was as far as the east is to the west.  My heart could not contain the love that I felt for Nathan.  Yet today that love is even more abundant.  That love is still broad enough to span the globe.  What has changed is the depth of the love.  There is a depth that comes only when two heart share the days and years of marriage.  A love that deepens with each joy, with each trial, with the addition of children to a marriage, with the link of working on a common goal, with the daily routine of putting the other first, with nightly prayers to the same loving Lord. 


To borrow the words of an old song, "We come from a long line of love."  Both sets of our parents have been married for over thirty years.  Our grandparents marriages have all endured until death parted them. It's my prayer that someday the same can be said of us.  Today ten years might seem long but someday looking back ten years will have only been the beginning.  Happy Tenth Anniversary Nathan. I am honored to be your wife. I love you and look forward so much more with you.


Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Farewell Custer

As we left Custer we stopped to take one last picture.
We'll miss you Custer State Park. Thanks for everything.

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Hill City Art


Posted by PicasaWe found one of the coolest horses ever in Hill City!

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Burros

Custer State Park Buffalo

Bouldering Around Sylvan Lake

Heading around the lake to find some rocks to climb.
Lydia found a place to climb up herself.
There's Evan up top.
Family photo! Looking through "the window" at more spires and the Hills beyond.

Posted by PicasaOne of our favorite places in SD is Custer State Park. If you visited us while we lived in SD I can almost guarantee that we took you to Sylvan Lake. It was so fun to take the kids and watch them be as amazed as so many guests were. The rock spires are amazing and beg to be climbed. We didn't do an technical climbing with ropes and gear but plenty of hiking and bouldering. If you're in the neighborhood definitely take the time to enjoy the Sylvan Lake area.

Happy Hikers

Evan and Lyd on top of the world!
Hiker Hans
Lydia and I made it!

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Supper at Smiths

Nate and Kim deep in conversation.
Girl time!
Wagon Racers.
Kelly and our kids. So happy.
After a day filled with adventures in Custer State Park we headed to another of our favorite places to visit, the Smiths. Our kids are over a decade apart in age but it certainly didn't slow down the bonding. While the adults caught up the kids entertained each other. Kelly and Lydia enjoyed girl bonding time and the boys discovered two wagons that were great for racing down the long sloping driveway. Nate and Kim hung out in the shop/garage while Denise and I walked/talked up and down the driveway. We stayed late but it seemed so short. Thank you Smiths for sharing the evening and the memories with us.
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I Spy A Mountain Goat

Three, nope, FOUR! happy kids in the Hills.
Close up of the mountain goat.


Monday, June 27, 2011

Hiking along Box Elder Forks Creek

The trail took us right to the creek. Hmm.
Keeping our shoes dry.
The path less taken.
Tranquil enough to do yoga.

Posted by PicasaWe couldn't visit the Black Hills without hiking them. Our campground was on Box Elder Creek so we hiked along, through, and across the creek several times.

Box Elder Forks Campground

Nate and Lydia making oatmeal for breakfast.
Grilling ham and cheese pudgie pies for lunch.
The last sign of civilization.

Posted by PicasaAfter a wonderful Sunday worship service, the church picnic, picking up firewood from the Prebles, and getting some groceries for the week, we found Camp Sweet Camp for the next few days. If you follow a dead-end road to the end, find the small National Forest Campground there, follow the circle drive all the way to the back, there you find the perfect place to pitch a tent. On one side we had a steep embankment covered with pines and on the other Box Elder Creek flowed past. We cooked over the fire, hiked, explored, and just savored the time in such a beautiful place.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

First Fabulous Hosts: Busches


On to Rapid City! Would you believe we spent hours laughing, playing, eating, visiting waaaay past bedtime and this is the only picture I have of our stay with the Busches? Too busy having too much fun! Thank you for being wonderful hosts, rearranging your house and schedules to accommodate us, and letting us pick up where we left off. That's one of the truest signs of friendship, no matter if it was five minutes or five years since the last visit, we just pick up where we left off. Thanks for your lasting friendship.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Badlands National Park

Corn Palace


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After a quick overnight at Nathan's parent's house we hit the road again. Our first tourist stop was the one and only Corn Palace.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Heading West


Posted by PicasaJune 24th we headed off into the sunset. Our final destination? The beautiful Black Hills of western South Dakota.